Major tourism summit set to open in Dubai

Dubai, April 19, 2008

More than 1,000 government and industry leaders will gather in Dubai for the annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit, which opens tomorrow.

This gathering will once again provide the industry with the opportunity to exchange ideas, build new relations, and reflect on travel and rourism's progress to date - as well as mapping out its future path, said a press release from World Travel and Tourism Council, the summit organiser.

"The travel and tourism sector's ability to look ahead and to adapt has made it what it is. The same is true for forward-looking destinations like Dubai. But now, at a period that is at the same time more challenging yet more open to opportunities than ever before, there is a need for a more conscious and strategic commitment to working for the future of the sector and of the global community," it said.

Over the two days of intensive presentations and discussions, the summit will address the global challenges facing the industry - in particular, in terms of its potential for sustainable, responsible growth, but also regarding key issues such as infrastructure, industry and government partnerships, economic influences and environmental and social concerns.

Discussions will highlight best practice case studies - some taken from other industries - as well as demonstrating the innovative responses of different mature and emerging destinations to new opportunities, pressures and changes. And these in turn will help develop transferable concepts and strategies to assist the industry in addressing all the complex challenges facing travel and tourism over the coming years, it said. -TradeArabia News Service